Latest news with #Vicodin
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Aaron Phypers accuses Denise Richards of affair with Rudy Reyes as divorce turns ugly
Aaron Phypers has publicly accused his estranged wife, actress Denise Richards, of having a six-month affair with Special Forces: World's Toughest Challenge instructor Rudy Reyes. As per Page Six, Phypers, 49, shared the explosive allegation in an open letter, stating that he confronted Richards about the affair earlier this year after discovering explicit messages and evidence on her phone. Phypers claims he first learned of the alleged affair in April, when he reportedly found over 100 sexts exchanged between Richards, 54, and Reyes, 53. He described discovering the messages as a painful experience, particularly as they included photos, videos, and details about their alleged meetings. Phypers mentioned that Richards initially denied the affair, claiming it was nothing and that she only loved him. Despite her assurances, he said more lies and additional evidence emerged, deepening his heartbreak. Phypers, who stated that he and Richards were open about each other's phone passwords, further claimed that Richards continued the relationship with Reyes even after promising to stop. He said that she began meeting him again in May, and he uncovered more signs of infidelity during the Fourth of July weekend. According to Phypers, Richards was arranging secret meetings with Reyes under the pretext of work trips, even flying him to private hotels. In the wake of these allegations, Phypers filed for divorce and requested spousal support. Richards, in response, filed for a temporary restraining order against him, accusing Phypers of physical abuse, a claim he vehemently denies. The dispute has taken a darker turn, with Phypers also accusing Richards of struggling with a Vicodin addiction, which he claims she combines with alcohol. He further alleged that her behavior, including neglecting their pets and their frequent moves, contributed to the strain on their relationship.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Commentary: Kratom use is on the rise and spreading fast in Orange County, physician warns
In my three decades working in addiction medicine, I've witnessed waves of substances sweep through our community — Vicodin, Xanax, heroin, and most recently, the devastating rise of fentanyl. But now, there is another drug quietly gaining momentum, often marketed as 'natural' and 'safe,' and it's sold legally to anyone — regardless of age — across most of California. That drug is kratom, and it's already entrenched in Orange County. If you haven't heard of kratom yet, you will. It's available in smoke shops, gas stations and online, often promoted as an herbal remedy for pain, energy, or mood. On a recent visit to a Costa Mesa smoke shop, I was able to buy it with zero restrictions. In fact, the clerk gave me free samples of 'hydroxy kratom' — a hyper-potent version of the drug — without hesitation. I didn't have to show ID, didn't get a warning label, and no one asked what I planned to do with it. It was that simple. So what exactly is kratom? It's a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia where locals have long chewed the leaves to increase energy and relieve pain. In small doses, it acts as a stimulant. In higher doses, it mimics the effects of opioids, binding to the same brain receptors as morphine or heroin. It also interacts with serotonin pathways, giving it an antidepressant-like effect. In short, kratom is a triple-threat substance: it energizes, soothes pain and lifts mood — all qualities that make it inherently addictive and dangerous when misused. And the newer, stronger forms — like hydroxy kratom — amplify these effects exponentially. According to one patient I treated recently, 'hydroxy kratom shouldn't even be called kratom anymore.' He's right. These chemically enhanced versions bear little resemblance to the original plant and are 50 to 100 times more potent than what's used traditionally in Southeast Asia. At Hoag Addiction Treatment Centers, the consequences are already here. In the past two months alone, I've detoxed as many patients from hydroxy kratom as I have from fentanyl. To put that in perspective: I've treated more people for kratom use this year than I have in the previous 30 years combined. That's not a coincidence — it's a sign of how fast this drug is spreading. What's particularly troubling is that kratom sits in a legal and regulatory gray zone. While some states and cities have taken action to ban its sale, California currently allows anyone — regardless of age — to purchase kratom. It's legal, cheap, potent and completely under the radar for many parents and healthcare providers. There is proposed legislation — Assembly Bill 2365 — that aims to restrict sales of kratom to people 21 and older, but it has stalled. Even if it passes, I fear it may not go far enough. We need more robust regulation, better public education, and swift action to curb what could become the next major wave in the addiction crisis. For those struggling with kratom use, treatment options do exist. Detox protocols often mirror those used for opioids, including the use of buprenorphine for withdrawal management. But that's just the start. Lasting recovery requires comprehensive support: individual therapy, group work, cognitive behavioral therapy and often engagement in community-based programs like 12-step recovery. The same level of care we provide for opioid addiction must be applied here. To our community — especially parents, educators, and healthcare professionals — I urge you: know what kratom is, talk about it, and watch for it. If someone you love is experiencing symptoms of dependency — such as increasing use, withdrawal symptoms, or difficulty quitting — don't wait. Reach out. The sooner we act, the more lives we can protect. Let's not be caught off guard again. The time to take kratom seriously is now. Steven R. Ey, MD, DFASAM is Chief of Service at Hoag Addiction Treatment Centers.
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Wildest moments and myths of Ozzy Osbourne, the man who made madness mainstream
Ozzy Osbourne's life blurred fact and folklore from bat bites to bizarre benders the Prince of Darkness redefined what it meant to be a rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and the self-styled 'Prince of Darkness,' has died at the age of 76. Known as much for his music as for his jaw-dropping antics, Osbourne leaves behind a legacy few in the music world could match, or tributes pour in from across the globe, fans are also remembering the outrageous and often unbelievable episodes that defined Ozzy's larger-than-life persona. From biting the heads off animals to urinating on national monuments, Osbourne pushed the boundaries of fame and rebellion, and rock 'n' roll a look at some of the wildest moments and reported myths from the man who lived every day as if it were his last:During a concert in Des Moines in January 1982, Iowa, Osbourne infamously bit the head off what he thought was a rubber bat thrown on stage. It turned out to be real and dead. He was rushed to the hospital for rabies shots, but the moment became immortalized in rock folklore. Months before the bat, Osbourne shocked record executives by biting the head off a live dove during a meeting with CBS Records. The act was meant to get attention, and it did, along with immediate ejection from the building. Ozzy was drunk and wearing Sharon Osbourne's dress when he urinated on a cenotaph near the Alamo in San Antonio in 1982. He was arrested and banned from performing in the city for 10 years. Amid a drug-fueled mental breakdown in 1989, Ozzy tried to strangle his wife Sharon. She survived and later dropped the charges, but the incident sent him to rehab. Sharon later said, 'It wasn't Ozzy. It was the drugs. I still believe that.'While visiting the Dachau camp in Germany, a drunk Ozzy reportedly caused such a disturbance that security threw him out, possibly the only person in history to be ejected from a Holocaust memorial the height of MTV's The Osbournes fame in the early 2000s, Ozzy was reportedly taking as many as 42 prescription pills daily, including 25 Vicodin. Yet he somehow remained standing, physically, if not always on drugs, Ozzy climbed on top of an aerial tramway car stalled 1,000 feet in the air and spread his arms wide, pretending to surf. It's a miracle he didn't fall to his a drunken rampage, Ozzy once shot the family's chickens with a shotgun, then burned the coop, while throwing live ammo into the fire for good worried about smuggling cocaine through customs, Ozzy simply handed his supply to flight attendants, who snorted it with him during the up to an intruder in his home, Ozzy, who sleeps nude, chased the man out of the house in full buff. It worked. The robber ran. Despite, or perhaps because of his excesses, Ozzy Osbourne became a symbol of unapologetic, unrelenting rock and roll. He was chaos wrapped in leather, a walking headline, and a survivor of a lifestyle that claimed countless others. Through it all, he remained fiercely loved. He leaves behind Sharon, their children, and grandchildren, along with millions of fans and decades of music.
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Ozzy Osbourne death: Black Sabbath singer dies at 76
Ozzy Osbourne, the storied Black Sabbath lead singer known as much for his excesses and bizarre onstage antics as his pioneering heavy metal music, has died in London. Bedeviled by health issues for years, Osbourne died Tuesday morning, his family announced, according to the Associated Press. He was 76. Osbourne announced in early 2020 that he'd been diagnosed nearly a year earlier with Parkinson's disease, just the latest but by far the most serious ailment that over his career had repeatedly forced him to cancel public appearances, delay releasing new material and scrap concerts, including his own retirement tour Advertisement The heavy metal pioneer's career spanned more than four decades as both a member of Black Sabbath and a solo artist, then as the maestro behind the annual Ozzfest that featured him — some of the time — alongside upcoming acts. It didn't seem to bother Osbourne that he was largely disregarded by critics: Fans cheered him wildly, he sold more than 100 million records as the leader of Black Sabbath and as a solo artist, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with his bandmates in 2006. Guided by his wife, Sharon, who was his manager and steadying force, Osbourne reinvented himself in the 1990s as an elder statesman of heavy metal. The musician also found late-in-life notoriety through his family's popular MTV reality series, 'The Osbournes,' where he played himself — the mumbling, nearly comatose patriarch of a fully dysfunctional family. 'People wonder why they can't understand him,' his wife told GQ magazine. 'Well, you'd be hard to understand too if you drank two vats of coffee, two vats of wine and took 25 Vicodin a day.' Advertisement Osbourne didn't disagree, 'If anyone has lived the debauched rock 'n' roll lifestyle,' Osbourne admitted. 'I suppose it's me.' Music What doesn't kill Ozzy Osbourne makes him ... even Ozzier Thanks to a hit single with Post Malone, Ozzy Osbourne is in the midst of a career resurgence, all while he battles Parkinson's disease, among myriad infirmities. Born John Michael Osbourne on Dec. 3, 1948, the youngest of four children, Osbourne was raised in a working-class neighborhood in Birmingham, England. His mother worked in a factory; his father worked nights as a toolmaker. Osbourne said his parents were poor and had few expectations their son would amount to much. 'All I ever wanted to do was to do something good so that my parents could be proud of me,' he told GQ. 'I never received any encouragement.' Advertisement He had an early interest in theater, performing in school plays. But when he first heard the Beatles, he knew he wanted to be a musician. Alongside guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward, Osbourne emerged as the voice and face of Black Sabbath in 1969. The group was menacing and dark. But it was credited with introducing the basics of heavy metal, including the aggressive vocal wail, bass-heavy riffs, demonic subject matter and a general spirit of rebelliousness, according to former Times music critic Richard Cromelin. Black Sabbath released its self-titled first record on a Friday the 13th in February 1970, the date hardly a coincidence. It went platinum in England and the U.S. Dismissed or simply ignored by critics, it nonetheless became required listening in college dorm rooms across the nation. The band went on to release more than a dozen studio albums, many that coincided with world tours. Weary of his lead singer's erratic behavior, Iommi had Osbourne fired from the band in 1979 as he descended in a haze of alcohol and drugs. For years other singers — from Ronnie James Dio to Deep Purple lead singer Ian Gillan — fronted Black Sabbath. Osbourne reunited with various iterations periodically and, in 2006, the band performed at its Hall of Fame induction. Osbourne married Sharon Arden, the daughter of the band's manager Don Arden, in 1982 and she took over managing his career. The couple launched OZZfest in 1996 and the touring festival became the first dedicated to hard rock music and emerging heavy metal artists. Osbourne headlined the inaugural shows in Phoenix and Devore, Calif., and donated a portion of the proceeds to charities across the country. Advertisement Osbourne released his first solo record, 'The Blizzard of Ozz,' in 1980 and it also went platinum. More solo records followed and in 1985 he performed at the Live Aid famine relief concert at Wembley Stadium in London alongside Queen, David Bowie, Madonna and the Who. His 12th album, 'Ordinary Man,' was released in 2020 to generally positive reviews and charted quickly His sometimes alarming antics onstage became part of the group's allure but also proved controversial. In 1982, Osbourne reportedly bit the head off a dead bat onstage during an Iowa concert. He already had a history of animal decapitations after he reportedly bit the head off a live dove during a meeting with record company executives. The move prompted Vets Auditorium in Des Moines to prohibit concert performers from using or presenting live animals onstage without the consent of management, according to the Des Moines Register. He also was dragged into court over the lyrics of one of his songs, 'Suicide Solution' — a track on 'Blizzard of Ozz.' He was accused in a 1986 civil suit of causing the deaths of two teenagers who allegedly committed suicide after listening to the song. Osbourne said later that the song was inspired by the alcohol-related death of AC/DC lyricist Bon Scott in 1980, though the actual songwriter, Bob Daisley, said he was actually thinking of Osbourne when he wrote the lyrics. In 1989, Osbourne performed at the Moscow Peace Festival, the first major rock concert in what then was the Soviet Union by Western artists. The musician released five more records in the 1990s and his 1993 song 'I Don't Want to Change the World' earned him his first Grammy Award for metal performance. Advertisement Ozzy Osbourne with Black Sabbath's 2014 Grammy Award for best metal performance. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Never fully untangled from his history of addiction and substance abuse, Osbourne's foggy state of mind was on full display to global audiences during his family's MTV reality series. The unscripted show ran for four seasons and during its run, Osbourne signed a $10-million renewal deal with MTV, met President George W. Bush at a Washington dinner, performed at Buckingham Palace and shook hands with Queen Elizabeth II. Osbourne later said that his unshakable stupor was due to his use of Valium and a host of other powerful narcotics prescribed by a Beverly Hills physician under investigation for overprescribing drugs to celebrity patients. 'I was wiped out on pills,' Osbourne told The Times in 2003. 'I couldn't talk. I couldn't walk. I could barely stand up. I was lumbering about like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. It got to the point where I was scared to close my eyes at night — afraid I might not wake up.' Prescription records obtained during the investigation showed Osbourne was taking more than 40 pills a day, a regimen that included opiates, tranquilizers, amphetamines, antidepressants and an antipsychotic. The day before a New Year's Eve concert in 2018 at the Forum, Osbourne said he'd been free of drugs, alcohol and even tobacco for more than four years. Advertisement 'I mean, I have grandchildren now and I'm 70 years old, and I don't want to be found dead in a hotel room somewhere,' he told the Pasadena Star News. Still, his health declined. He was diagnosed in 2019 with a severe upper-respiratory infection, which his doctors felt could develop into pneumonia given the physicality of his live performances and an extensive travel schedule throughout Europe in harsh winter conditions. He canceled his farewell tour and then canceled even more shows on his relaunched farewell tour before being hospitalized for complications from the flu. Months later he postponed more shows after sustaining an undisclosed injury that required surgery, after falling at his home. The fall had aggravated an injury sustained in a near-fatal 2003 ATV accident. In an interview with Robin Roberts for 'Good Morning America' in 2020, Osbourne speculated that the fall may have been an early sign of Parkinson's, a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder for which there is no cure. Osbourne said the diagnosis actually helped bring his family closer together, though he was left with the thought that he now was the only one in the family not working. Worries aside, the Osbournes were ranked by Forbes in 2018 among the richest couples in England, with a net worth in excess of $200 million. 'Coming from a working-class background, I hate to let people down. I hate to not do my job,' Osbourne told Roberts. 'And so when I see my wife goin' to work, my kids goin' to work, everybody's doing — tryin' to be helpful to me, that gets me down because I can't contribute to my family, you know.' Advertisement But work he did, trudging back to the studio to begin recording 'Ordinary Man.' Osbourne is survived by his wife and their three children, Aimee, Kelly and Jack Osbourne, and numerous grandchildren. He also is survived by three children from a previous marriage: Jessica, Louis and Elliot. Staff writer Steve Marble contributed to this story
News.com.au
7 days ago
- News.com.au
Aaron Phypers accuses Denise Richards of Vicodin addiction, having ‘ongoing' affair in explosive letter
Aaron Phypers is accusing his estranged wife, Denise Richards, of being addicted to pain medication Vicodin and having an 'ongoing' affair with another man, after she levelled shocking abuse allegations against him. In an explosive letter to friends and family obtained by Page Six from Phypers, he claims Richards needs an 'intervention' for her alleged drug addiction that has affected their 14-year-old daughter, Eloise. 'For nearly a decade, she has struggled with an addiction to Vicodin (which she jokingly calls 'Vitamin D' or 'white chestnuts'), mixed with Adderall and tequila,' he claims. 'Some of you know this has been an issue for over 20 years. She's no longer eating real meals, and I've witnessed her pass out from substances – putting herself and others in danger, including while driving with our daughter.' He also claims Richards has been involved in an affair, which he learned about earlier this year. 'She begged me not to leave, saying it was nothing and that she only loved me,' Phypers alleges in the letter. 'Then, she denied it all — even the explicit messages I found. Despite her promise to stop, more lies and shocking evidence emerged.' Phypers further claims that she's the one who physically abused him on July 4 — their date of separation in his divorce filing. 'On July 4th, a simple act — ordering food for our daughter Eloise — led to an unthinkable discovery. Denise accused me of using her card, and in the confusion, my phone disappeared,' he claims. 'After searching for over 20 hours and being physically attacked when I asked for it back, I eventually found it smashed inside a trash bag, hidden beneath rotting garbage and litter. When I asked why, she denied it completely. That same night, she texted me saying she was filing for divorce.' Phypers claims he and his parents have since been 'mistreated' after he filed for divorce first. 'I've experienced stalking (an AirTag placed on my car), been denied access to my personal belongings, and watched my elderly parents become frightened and mistreated — simply because they supported me and helped take care of Denise's animals, her daughter, and our home,' he claims in the letter. 'This isn't just a relationship breaking down. It's a cry for help,' he alleges, asking for prayers for Richards. He also doubled down on his previous denial of Richards' allegations of abuse, claiming, 'I have never, ever physically harmed my wife, and I did not give her a black eye. I have only ever stepped in to protect her or others — including separating her from physically attacking her daughter — always coming from a place of care and concern.' Page Six has reached out to Richards for comment but did not hear back. Richards, 54, was granted a restraining order against Phypers, 52, last Wednesday. In court documents obtained by Page Six, she shared photos of her bruised face, claiming Phypers had abused her. 'Throughout our relationship, Aaron would frequently violently choke me, violently squeeze my head with both hands, tightly squeeze my arms, violently slap me in my face and head, aggressively slam my head into the bathroom towel rack,' Richards alleged. She claimed Phypers threatened to kill her and himself if she ever reported him to the cops. She also referenced their big blowout fight on July 4, claiming he was the aggressor. Richards alleged he became 'enraged' after she told him that he and his family had to move out of their marital home. 'Over the course of nearly two hours, Aaron repeatedly got within two inches of my face and screamed at me degrading profanities, including calling me a 'c**t wh**e' and a 'piece of sh*t' and screaming at me, 'Nobody likes you',' she alleged in the court documents. 'Aaron repeatedly grabbed my left arm tightly in an aggressive manner. I told Aaron repeatedly that he needed to stay away from me and that he was going to hurt me.' Phypers — who was previously caught on camera telling Richards he would 'crush' her hand in a resurfaced The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills scene — denied Richards' allegations shortly after the filing, calling them 'harmful and baseless'. A source close to Phypers blamed the shocking picture of her black eye from her restraining order filing on her having an alleged 'alcohol problem'. 'That photo was taken in winter 2022, and the fact is she was drunk at the time and fell coming up the steps to Aaron's [since-closed medical] clinic, Q360,' the insider claimed to the Daily Mail. Phypers filed for divorce from Richards earlier this month, listing 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for their split.
